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Human relations manager skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted experts
Dr. Vinh Nguyen Ph.D.,
Anthony Nyberg
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical human relations manager skills. We ranked the top skills for human relations managers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 18.4% of human relations manager resumes contained human resources as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a human relations manager needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 human relations manager skills for your resume and career

1. Human Resources

Human resources is a set of people in a business or a corporation that are designated to locate, interview, and recruit new employees into the company. They are also responsible to maintain the integrity of the employees and help them sort their problems out. They try to introduce and manage employee-benefit programs.

Here's how human relations managers use human resources:
  • Led all aspects of human resources for unionized manufacturing operation and managed location s government relations and community outreach initiatives.
  • Served as administrative assistant to the President/CEO, managed human resources and guest/donor correspondence, oversaw general operations of organization.

2. Conflict Resolution

Conflict resolution is an often necessary skill in business, employed for processes such as contract negotiations, legal matters, and even personal, emotional situations and conflicts. It is the ability to find and create an appropriate and peaceful solution to some sort of dilemma or argument in which two or more parties are involved. The resolution itself must benefit and satisfy all parties and this is what makes it so difficult to reach a peaceful point sometimes.

Here's how human relations managers use conflict resolution:
  • Conducted conflict resolution sessions and facilitated mediation process.
  • Conflict resolution and communication knowledge in areas such as legislations; develops job descriptions, reviews resumes and conducts job interviews/hire.

3. Performance Management

Here's how human relations managers use performance management:
  • Administered compensation, benefits and performance management systems, and safety programs.
  • Lead calibration sessions with executive management on performance management.

4. Employee Development

Here's how human relations managers use employee development:
  • Analyzed training needs to design employee development, language training, and health and safety programs.
  • Created a highly effective employee development program that establish strong working relationships and mold diverse individuals into cohesive, results-oriented teams.

6. HRIS

Here's how human relations managers use hris:
  • Project lead for every new company upgrade to company Operating, Payroll, HRIS and Applicant Tracking Systems.
  • Coordinated and prepared Army HRIS database training classes for all assigned junior Human Resources Specialists assigned to subordinate organizations.

7. Policy Interpretation

Here's how human relations managers use policy interpretation:
  • Communicated, administered and enforced all HR policies and procedures to guarantee consistency in policy interpretation by managers and employees.
  • Directed all talent acquisition, performance evaluations, coaching/counseling, policy interpretation/administration, regulatory compliance and employee satisfaction surveys.

8. Human Relations

Here's how human relations managers use human relations:
  • Designed and maintained a Human Relations intranet portal and access database.
  • Managed all aspects of Human Relations, Workers Compensation, Insurance Policies and Payroll for union and non-union employees.

9. Shared Services

Here's how human relations managers use shared services:
  • Directed the Human Resources Shared Services Team operations including service delivery, operational effectiveness and business process review and improvement.
  • Project Team responsible for re-engineering worldwide business processes, implementing SAP and designing a new Shared Services Organization within the organization.

10. Employee Engagement

Here's how human relations managers use employee engagement:
  • Conducted employee surveys to assess employee engagement and measure managerial effectiveness.
  • Participated in the development and rollout of an ESMsystem to increase employee engagement thereby reducing attrition.

11. I-9

I-9 is a government verification form that indicates, whether an individual is eligible for work in the US. The form was created by the United States Department of Homeland Security division, named as the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) which requires that all US citizens must fill out and submit an I-9 form to start their working career in the US. An I-9 form includes a person's identification information and education credentials, that are ought to be verified by the employer.

Here's how human relations managers use i-9:
  • Investigated and conducted I-9 Audit and INS Documentation.
  • Administer E-verify for authentication of employees form I-9 documents to determine employment eligibility upon hiring.

12. Employment Law

Employment law іѕ the соllесtіоn of laws аnd rules that rеgulаtе thе rеlаtіоnѕhір bеtwееn employers and еmрlоуееѕ. It gоvеrnѕ whаt еmрlоуеrѕ саn еxресt from еmрlоуееѕ, whаt еmрlоуеrѕ саn ask of еmрlоуееѕ, and employees' rights аt wоrk. Employment law covers a wіdе range оf issues, frоm реnѕіоnѕ аnd retirement рlаnѕ to occupational safety аnd tо discrimination in thе workplace.

Here's how human relations managers use employment law:
  • Trained management staff in fair employment laws and practices and implemented Smoke Free work-place.
  • Partnered with plant operations leadership to provide guidance in employment laws, compensation/benefits, training, recruiting and positive employment relations.

13. Progressive Discipline

Here's how human relations managers use progressive discipline:
  • Oversee of all aspects of staff performance such as performance evaluation, progressive discipline and mediation of staff disputes.
  • Coached and advised Distribution Center Directors and Supervisors when issuing progressive discipline, suspensions and employment separations.

14. Exit Interviews

Exit interviews are meetings conducted by management representatives with employees who are separating from the company. These interviews act as a measurement scale to assess the individual's overall experience with the organization. Having a standardized procedure of exit interviews helps the company to manage risks effectively. It can increase employee retention, engagement and helps to decide what decisions are fruitful and what aren't inside the organization.

Here's how human relations managers use exit interviews:
  • Processed termination/resignation information and performed exit interviews.
  • Engage in employee relations counseling by coaching and advising employees and management regarding any employee-related employment needs and conduct exit interviews.

15. Disciplinary Actions

Disciplinary actions refer to a corrective measure taken against an employee for unsatisfactory behavior. Many work environments have a tiered system for disciplinary action, where the first warning is verbal and the second is written. Disciplinary action may be given after a weak performance review, a violation of company rules and policies, or a poor customer review.

Here's how human relations managers use disciplinary actions:
  • Counseled and trained District Sales Managers in employee retention and disciplinary actions and employee relations.
  • Established and regularly reviews personnel policy and employee relations guidelines which includes disciplinary actions, investigations, and employee morale programs.
top-skills

What skills help Human Relations Managers find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on human relations manager resumes?

Dr. Vinh Nguyen Ph.D.Dr. Vinh Nguyen Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Professor of Business Administration, Coe College

The most important skills for new graduates, particularly for HRM majors, are adaptability and problem solving. The ability to continuously learn and change is critical during this crisis and with on-going technological advancements. A willingness to face any problems and to find creative solutions is also highly desirable in this changing world. Thus, people who are highly aware and possess a growth mindset will stand out in the labor market.

What soft skills should all human relations managers possess?

Anthony Nyberg

Department Chair and Professor, Program Director, Master of Human Resources, University of South Carolina - Columbia

In general, the "soft" skills are actually the hardest, and the most important of these skills involves strong communication and an ability to work in teams - most jobs and all companies require people to work together, and this is a very challenging skill, but imperative in the modern workforce.

What hard/technical skills are most important for human relations managers?

Anthony Nyberg

Department Chair and Professor, Program Director, Master of Human Resources, University of South Carolina - Columbia

HR, like many work environments, is driven by using data to address challenges. This requires a strong analytical foundation.

What human relations manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Sandi DornheckerSandi Dornhecker LinkedIn profile

Vice President of Human Resources, Chicago Zoological Society

Using technology in a work setting (such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams) and a focus on soft skills such as collaboration and flexibility (being willing to learn and contribute any way you can) will become increasingly important.

List of human relations manager skills to add to your resume

Human relations manager skills

The most important skills for a human relations manager resume and required skills for a human relations manager to have include:

  • Human Resources
  • Conflict Resolution
  • Performance Management
  • Employee Development
  • Related Training
  • HRIS
  • Policy Interpretation
  • Human Relations
  • Shared Services
  • Employee Engagement
  • I-9
  • Employment Law
  • Progressive Discipline
  • Exit Interviews
  • Disciplinary Actions
  • PeopleSoft
  • Collective Bargaining
  • Mediation
  • Payroll
  • EEO-1
  • Community Relations
  • Action Plan
  • Legal Compliance
  • Performance Evaluations
  • Contract Negotiations
  • Background Checks
  • Sexual Harassment
  • AAP
  • Professional Development
  • FLSA
  • Ethics
  • Arbitration

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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